My knees look normal. No damage to the meniscus or cartilage. I suppose I've had a stubborn inflammation. Its better now after a month of less training, but the aches are not completely gone (if they will ever fully disappear). I also have some tight spots in the side of the hip and IT-band that might be related.

As for my low back I have damage in the area between the lowest disc and the pelvis. Signs of slipped disc but not severe enough for surgery. I've been prescribed lower weights and rehab.

Atm I'm not really sure what I'm gonna do with my training. Once you've had damage to the discs it sort of "sits" there, as far as I know, and I don't want to risk long term health. At least I can't do powerlifting for a while (heavy deads and benching seems to provoke the aching). I'll continue with the strength training, but it'll be lighter and less for a while now.

Discs can heal. You just need a damn good physio to get you there. And it takes time.

If the pain is really bad and you can't get through physio, then you might ask your doc for a cortisone shot.

Like skeen said, back stuff is really not worth messing with. Take time to rehab it right and if you can't ever get back to training heavy, so be it. Chances are your lifting days aren't over.

That's what happens when you get a bunch of geeks who suddenly decide after adolescence that they want to become physically robust

Phenotype is determined partly by genetics, partly by childhood activity/environment
Very difficult to change it in adulthood without drugs (or even with drugs if its bad enough)

I read a quote by a an elite soccer coach who said that most people who quit due to injuries when they go from amateur to pro do so because they don't have the capacity to handle the training load, and that they cannot change it at that point. Like most skills you develop that capacity early in life. The thing that bothers me now is that I trained very cautiously (for powerlifting, that is), with perfect technique, etc. I guess it was just too much. I could've held back more when I got the first signs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by I<3Bacon

@conceptionist your gym have a reverse hyper?

Yes. I use the regular hyperextension every session.

I will probably focus on general athleticism and aesthetics for a while now.